Begonia plant named &#39;krhaipe01&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Begonia  plant named ‘KRHAIPE01’ characterized by its upright to outwardly spreading and mounded plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely flowering habit; double type flowers that are light salmon red in color and held above and beyond the foliar plane; and excellent postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Begonia x hiemalis.

Cultivar denomination: ‘KRHAIPE01’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Begoniaplant, botanically known as Begonia x hiemalis, commercially referred toas an Elatior Begonia and hereinafter referred to by the name‘KRHAIPE01’.

The new Begonia plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Ermelo, The Netherlands. The objective ofthe breeding program is to create new vigorous Begonia plants withexcellent postproduction longevity and attractive flower color.

The new Begonia plant originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in Ermelo, The Netherlands in January, 2013 of a proprietaryselection of Begonia x tuberhybrida hybrid identified as code numberKV11K1915-004, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with aproprietary selection of Begonia socotrana identified as code numberS00, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Begonia plantwas discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plantfrom within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlledgreenhouse environment in Ermelo, The Netherlands in January, 2014.Asexual reproduction of the new Begonia plant by terminal vegetativecuttings taken in a controlled greenhouse environment in Ermelo, TheNetherlands since April, 2014 has shown that the unique features of thisnew Begonia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Begonia have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature, daylength and light intensity, without, however,any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘KRHAIPE01’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘KRHAIPE01’ as a new and distinct Begonia plant:

-   -   1. Upright to outwardly spreading and mounded plant habit.    -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Freely flowering habit.    -   4. Double type flowers that are light salmon red in color and        held above and beyond the foliar plane.    -   5. Excellent postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Begonia differ primarily from plants of the femaleparent selection in flower color as plants of the female parentselection have yellow orange-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Begonia differ primarily from plants of the maleparent selection in flower color as plants of the male parent selectionhave light red purple-colored flowers. In addition, plants of theBegonia have double type flowers whereas plants of the male parentselection have single type flowers.

Plants of the new Begonia can be compared to plants of Begonia xhiemalis ‘Dark Britt’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisonsconducted in Ermelo, The Netherlands, plants of the new Begonia differprimarily from plants of ‘Dark Britt’ in flower color as plants of ‘DarkBritt’ have orange-colored flowers. In addition, plants of the newBegonia have larger and more fully double flowers than plants of ‘DarkBritt’.

Plants of the new Begonia can also be compared to plants of Begonia xhiemalis ‘Reina’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,336. Inside-by-side comparisons conducted in Ermelo, The Netherlands, plants ofthe new Begonia differ primarily from plants of ‘Reina’ in flower sizeas plants of ‘Reina’ have smaller. In addition, plants of the newBegonia and ‘Reina’ differ in flower color as plants of ‘Reina’ havedark orange-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Begonia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Begonia plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of atypical plant of ‘KRHAIPE01’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet are close up views of the upper(right) and lower (left) surfaces of typical leaves and flowers of‘KRHAIPE01’, and in the center of the photograph is a close-up view oftypical flower buds.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown during the late spring and earlysummer in 12-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Ermelo, TheNetherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial Begoniaproduction. During the production of the plants, day temperaturesaveraged 20° C. and night temperatures averaged 18° C. Plants were threemonths old when the photographs and description were taken. In thefollowing description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Begonia x hiemalis ‘KRHAIPE01’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Begonia x            tuberhybrida hybrid identified as code number KV11K1915-004,            not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Begonia            socotrana identified as code number S00, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By terminal vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer and winter.—About 20 days at            temperatures about 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer and            winter.—About five weeks at temperatures about 20° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically white to orange            brown in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on            substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and            formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of            roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density; plants of            the new Begonia have not been observed to form tubers.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant habit and form.—Upright to outwardly spreading and            mounded plant habit; overall plant shape, broadly obovate to            nearly globular.        -   Growth habit.—Moderately vigorous growth habit and moderate            growth rate; suitable for 12-cm and larger containers; under            optimal environmental and cultural conditions, usually about            nine weeks are required to produce proportional plants in            12-cm containers.        -   Branching habit.—Moderately freely branching with about four            primary branches developing per plant.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 23.6            cm.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 28.3            cm.        -   Plant width.—About 38 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 10.9 cm. Diameter: About 0.9            cm to 1 cm. Internode length: About 3.4 cm. Strength:            Moderately strong. Aspect: About 30° from vertical. Texture            and luster: Initially, sparsely pubescent and becoming            smooth and glabrous with development; glossy. Color,            developing: Close to 144A. Color, developed: Close to 146A;            proximally, closer to 148A.        -   Leaves.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple. Length: About            13.4 cm. Width: About 11.3 cm. Shape: Ovate, asymmetrical.            Apex: Acute. Base: Hastate. Margin: Crenate to dentate;            slightly undulate. Texture and luster, upper surface:            Smooth, glabrous; moderately velvety; matte. Texture and            luster, lower surface: Sparsely pubescent along venation;            slightly velvety; slightly glossy. Venation pattern:            Laciniate. Color: Developing leaves, upper surface: Slighter            darker than 143A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to            138B. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Darker than            between 139A and 147A; venation, close to 143B. Fully            expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 191B; towards the            margins, tinged with close to 181C; venation, close to 146C.            Petioles: Length: About 7 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm to            5.5 mm. Strength: Low, flexible. Texture and luster, upper            and lower surfaces: Sparsely pubescent; moderately glossy.            Color, upper surface: Close to 152A. Color, lower surface:            Close to 152A; distally on developed leaves, strongly tinged            with close to 180A. Stipules: Length: About 8 mm. Width:            About 1.2 cm. Shape: Roughly lunate. Apex: Obtuse. Base:            Broadly cuneate. Margin: Finely ciliate. Texture and luster,            upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; moderately            glossy. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 145A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower appearance and flowering habit.—Double type rotate            flowers with four tepals and numerous tepaloids; flowers            arranged in axillary compound cymes; freely flowering habit            with typically about eleven flowers per cyme and about 400            flowers and flower buds developing per plant; many cymes in            flower simultaneously; flowers positioned above and beyond            the foliar plane and face upright to outwardly.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants begin flowering about five            weeks after planting; plants will flower year round            regardless of nyctoperiod, however plants flower earlier and            more abundantly from spring into the autumn in The            Netherlands.        -   Postproduction longevity.—Individual flowers last about ten            days on the plant; flowers not persistent; excellent            postproduction longevity, plants maintain good substance for            about five to six weeks in an interior environment.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Inflorescence height.—About 14 cm.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 6.4 cm.        -   Flowers.—Shape: Rotate, fully double type. Diameter: About            6.1 cm. Depth (height): About 2.4 cm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.9 cm. Diameter: About 0.5 cm to            2.2 cm. Shape: Reniform, flattened. Texture and luster:            Glabrous; slightly velvety; matte. Color: Close to 37B;            fading towards the base to close to 37D.        -   Tepals.—Quantity and arrangement per flower: Usually about            four per flower arranged in two whorls. Length, lower            tepals: About 3.4 cm. Width, lower tepals: About 4.2 cm.            Length, upper tepals: About 2.9 cm. Width, upper tepals:            About 3.2 cm. Shape, all tepals: Reniform. Apex, all tepals:            Rounded. Base, all tepals: Truncate. Margin, all tepals:            Entire; moderately undulate. Texture and luster, upper            surface, lower tepals: Smooth, glabrous; moderately velvety;            matte. Texture and luster, lower surface, lower tepals:            Smooth, glabrous; moderately velvety; slightly glossy.            Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces, upper tepals:            Smooth, glabrous; moderately velvety; matte. Color, lower            tepals: When opening, upper surface: Close to 39B; fading            towards the base to close to 24C to 24D. When opening, lower            surface: Close to 39B; fading towards the base to close to            36A. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 38A; fading            towards the base to close to 8B; venation, similar to lamina            color; colors do not change with development. Fully opened,            lower surface: Close to 38B; fading towards the base to            close to 8B; venation, similar to lamina color; colors do            not change with development. Color, upper tepals: When            opening, upper surface: Close to 32C; fading towards the            base to close to 24B. When opening, lower surface: Close to            37B; fading towards the base to close to 37C. Fully opened,            upper surface: Close to 37A; fading towards the base to            close to 13A; proximal margins, close to 28B; venation,            similar to lamina color; colors do not change with            development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 37C;            venation, similar to lamina color; colors do not change with            development.        -   Tepaloids.—Quantity and arrangement per flower: Typically            about eleven per flower clustered at the center of the            flower. Length: About 0.9 cm to 2.1 cm. Width: About 0.4 cm            to 1.7 cm. Shape: Obovate. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Cuneate.            Margin: Entire; slightly undulate. Texture and luster, upper            surface: Smooth, glabrous; moderately velvety; matte.            Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous;            slightly velvety; matte. Color: When opening, upper surface:            Close to 32C; fading towards the base to close to 10A. When            opening, lower surface: Close to 37B. Fully opened, upper            surface: Close to 38A; fading towards the base to close to            8B; venation, similar to lamina color; color does not change            with development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 38B;            fading towards the base to close to 8B; venation, similar to            lamina color; color does not change with development.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 6.4 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm to            6 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: About 40° from            lateral branch axis. Texture and luster: Sparsely pubescent;            moderately glossy. Color: Close to 144A to 144B.        -   Pedicels.—Length: About 1.8 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm.            Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: About 35° from peduncle            axis. Texture and luster: Moderately pubescent; glossy.            Color: Close to 161A.        -   Flower bracts.—Quantity per flower: Two. Length: About            1.4 cm. Width: About 1.8 cm. Shape: Roughly reniform. Apex:            Obtuse to bluntly acute. Base: Broadly cuneate. Margin:            Finely ciliate. Texture and luster, upper and lower            surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Color, upper            and lower surfaces: Close to 146D; venation, similar to            lamina color.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens and pistils: None observed;            male and female flower development has not been observed on            plants of the new Begonia to date; no seed nor fruit            production has been observed to date.-   Disease & pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common    to Begonia plants has not been observed on plants of the new Begonia    to date.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Begonia have been observed    to tolerate high temperatures of about 35° C. and to be suitable for    USDA Hardiness Zones 10 to 12.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Begonia plant named ‘KRHAIPE01’ as illustrated and described. 